Focusing on the wrong gains: why efficiency alone misses the mark
When discussing Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) in the workplace, the conversation often revolves around efficiency, how many hours it can save, how many repetitive tasks it can automate, and how much it can cut from operational costs. For Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) leaders, this appears to be a clear win. However, this perspective sets misleading expectations for both employees and business leaders.
Employees hear, “AI will save you time” and wonder, “ok, but then, what will I do with all that extra time? Does this mean my role is being reduced?“ Meanwhile, business leaders hear, “AI will cut costs” and ask, “ok, does this mean I need fewer people on my team?”
This narrow narrative fuels resistance to AI adoption and limits its true potential. Gen AI isn’t just about working faster, it’s about working smarter. Companies focusing solely on automation overlook its real power: improving decision-making, enhancing expertise, and driving innovation. As McKinsey & Company highlighted in a 2023 study, “Leaders see greater value in applications that transform the effectiveness of business functions.”
Take finance teams, for example. Those leveraging Gen AI don’t just automate invoice processing; they use AI for cash flow forecasting and strategic analysis, strengthening their ability to navigate uncertainty and make smarter financial decisions.
Performance over efficiency: why AI success lies in effectiveness
The true impact of Gen AI isn’t in the time saved; it’s in how it amplifies human potential. AI elevates work quality and teams’ strategic capabilities. It shifts professionals from execution to augmentation, enabling them to move beyond repetitive tasks and use AI for more persuasive, data-driven communication. It transforms decision-making from reactive to proactive, providing AI-generated insights that anticipate challenges and inform strategy. Most importantly, it redefines success, not as cost-cutting but as value creation. Companies that thrive with AI aren’t reducing headcount; they are empowering employees to seize new business opportunities.
Consider marketing teams. Many organisations introduce AI to automate content creation, but the real breakthrough happens when AI helps analyse audience behaviour, refine messaging, and test innovative creative approaches. This elevates the quality and impact of marketing efforts, leading to stronger customer engagement and business growth.
HR teams see similar benefits. Instead of simply automating recruitment tasks, they use AI to identify skill gaps, personalise learning, and enhance workforce planning, improving talent retention and internal mobility. Meanwhile, sales teams leverage AI for real-time deal intelligence and customer sentiment analysis, allowing them to prioritise high-value opportunities and improve conversion rates with data-driven strategies.
A 2025 LinkedIn report reinforces this shift, stating that “productivity benefits are only part of the story; when implemented well, AI serves as a powerful tool to unlock innovation across all aspects of a business or economy. In fact, 80% of C-suite executives globally believe AI will kickstart a culture shift where teams become more innovative.”
The mindset shift that unlocks AI’s true potential
For SME leaders, the real AI question isn’t, therefore, “How much time will this save?” but rather, “How will this strengthen my team and our value proposition?”
Organisations that embrace Gen AI as a performance amplifier unlock its full transformative potential. They enhance strategic decision-making, improve customer engagement, and drive long-term business growth. However, this requires a collective mindset shift. AI’s greatest value emerges when the entire organisation adopts it for augmentation rather than reduction. This is why I co-created Homo Promptus, to help SMEs navigate this transformation and empower all teams to amplify their impact rather than diminish human roles.
The ultimate question isn’t whether AI will transform your business; it’s whether your organisation will use it to amplify its teams’ competences and talents, rather than settle for short-term automation gains. Homo Promptus is the partner for leaders who choose the path of augmentation over reduction.
